Lost it's charm half way through
I was so excited about this because I love the two leads specially HS, sadly it wasn't that great and struggled to not drop it.Acting :
Ihave to be fair and say that acting-wise it was good, HS was spectacular, the only thing I couldn't stomach was the way Heyri was speaking, it's like a 3 YO child still I understand that it's the way she chose to go with the character so I didn't mind much, and while I like KH I couldn't see anything "in his eyes" the anger or calmness or whatever that he has to show was lost on me, I was only able to see one facial expression all the way, he just can't act with his eyes.
So aside from that I liked the rest of the actors even the annoying ones.
Story:
I don't know what was going on, and not that I didn't understand the story but midway it was all over the place, the way they showed she was not a serious case of DID then bam! She was cured just like that, I hardly could see her taking any meds nor was I convinced by the psychiatrist she was seeing and their conversations felt ridiculous.
Also I couldn't follow through the time, some days I'd be confused like shouldn't they be at work now or whatever? Are they allowed to take so much days off? Specially the days that HO had to stay with EH I and she sleeps for over 13 hours for like 3 days continuously.
Aside from lacking logic big deal, the story got very boring, the more you watch the more you get less excited to finish it, pity it was good at the beginning.
Overall not really bad, what I didn't like was personal preference, some can just not see the things I didn't like or can be easily ignored, yet I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you have patience and don't care much about logic ~
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Dear Hyeri: A Disaster Redeemed Only by Shin Hye-sun’s Brilliance
Every so often, a K-drama arrives like a glittering promise, armed with all the ingredients to create something unforgettable. Dear Hyeri had them all—an intriguing premise rooted in mental health struggles, a leading actress in Shin Hye-sun known for her nuanced, soul-deep performances, and a director with enough pedigree to spin gold from good intentions.But what we got instead was fool’s gold. Pretty from a distance, but the moment you draw closer, the flaws crack wide open like fault lines. What could have been a masterpiece ends up as something you can only admire from afar, like a painting smeared over by clumsy hands.
And yet, even in the chaos of that messy canvas, Shin Hye-sun shines like a beacon. As Joo Eun-ho, a news announcer fractured by trauma and societal indifference, she threads her performance with an aching tenderness and fire so tangible it feels like it could light a dark room. When she slips into her alter ego, Hye-ri, she radiates with a childlike vibrancy and warmth. Watching her perform is like seeing a virtuoso play a symphony while the orchestra behind her fumbles with their instruments. It’s breathtaking and infuriating all at once.
If only the writing had been worthy of her brilliance.
Instead, the script falters and flails, stumbling over its own ambition. What begins as a promising exploration of mental illness, emotional scars, and fractured relationships quickly devolves into a toxic romance that stifles any potential for genuine healing or growth. It’s as if the writers were handed a Stradivarius and chose to beat it against a rock.
Jung Hyun-oh, played by Lee Jin-wook, is meant to be a complicated love interest with his own set of emotional wounds. In reality, he’s about as engaging as a brick wall. His character is controlling, possessive, and somehow painted as romantic. For a man who supposedly broke Eun-ho’s heart with a brutal breakup that shattered her psyche, his return to her life feels less like a redemption arc and more like an unwanted guest barging through the front door. Lee Jin-wook’s performance doesn’t help matters—his delivery is as flat as week-old soda, all fizz gone with nothing but a bitter aftertaste.
What makes this dynamic even more unbearable is the deeply toxic nature of their relationship. Hyun-oh’s character is controlling, prone to jealousy, and perpetually invasive. Let us not forget that his decision to end their eight-year relationship was the catalyst for Eun-ho’s mental breakdown. And yet, he has the audacity to reinsert himself into her life under the guise of concern, all while displaying the emotional maturity of a teenager. The script’s insistence on portraying this relationship as redemptive or romantic is not just misguided; it’s outright insulting to the audience’s intelligence.
As if the main romance weren’t enough of a travesty, the plot’s resolutions are equally asinine. After endless episodes of Eun-ho struggling to reclaim her agency and vowing not to repeat past mistakes, she inexplicably returns to Hyun-oh, who—miraculously and without justification—is suddenly ready for marriage. It’s the kind of narrative sleight-of-hand that leaves viewers questioning whether the writers were as emotionally invested in these characters as they expected us to be.
The supporting cast offers some reprieve, albeit not enough to salvage the series. Kang Hoon’s portrayal of Kang Ju-yeon, the secondary romantic lead, is magnetic. His understated performance imbues the character with depth and vulnerability, and his interactions with Hye-ri provide some of the show’s most heartfelt moments. Similarly, Jo Hye-joo’s turn as Baek Hye-yeon is a breath of fresh air. Her character’s bright, comedic energy and genuine warmth often overshadow the main storyline, to the point where her romance with Ju-yeon becomes infinitely more engaging than the supposed central plot. If only the drama had leaned into this secondary storyline more—perhaps it could have salvaged some dignity.
Instead, we are subjected to some of the most aggravating side characters ever to grace the small screen. Yoon Joo-man’s portrayal of Jeon Jae-yong, a returning veteran reporter, is particularly egregious. Meant to provide comic relief, his antics are neither amusing nor endearing. Rather, they are a masterclass in how to derail a scene and test the viewer’s patience. It’s as though the writers were determined to pad the runtime with filler material, no matter how irritating or inconsequential.
Ultimately, the blame lies at the feet of screenwriter Han Ga-ram, who fumbled an intricate premise with the grace of a clumsy juggler. What could have been a deep dive into trauma and recovery instead feels like a soap opera with none of the satisfying melodrama. The tonal inconsistency leaves viewers adrift, struggling to latch onto a story that seems unsure of its own identity.
And yet, there is Shin Hye-sun. Steady, luminous, and unflinchingly present. Watching her navigate this mess of a script is like witnessing an artist paint masterpieces on scraps of torn paper. Her brilliance is the only thing that keeps Dear Hyeri from collapsing entirely under the weight of its own failings.
Dear Hyeri is a masterclass in how to waste potential. It is a drama that promised depth but delivered shallowness, that teased complexity but settled for clichés. For Shin Hye-sun fans, it is a painful reminder of what happens when a luminous star is forced to shine in a black hole of mediocrity. For everyone else, it is a cautionary tale: not all that glitters is gold.
Verdict: Dear Hyeri had the potential to be a riveting character study, but instead, it buckles under the strain of its clumsy writing and misplaced priorities. Shin Hye-sun’s performance is a diamond buried in the wreckage—radiant, invaluable, but ultimately wasted on a drama that didn’t deserve her.. For Shin Hye-sun’s sake, let us hope her next project is worthy of her immense talent.
Score: 5/10
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THIS KDRAMA IS IN MY TOP -BEST KDRAMAS THAT I NEVER SEEN-
Idk why so many people is haiting this kdrama i think that they didn't understand the past/history about the manlead jun hyun-ho (they're haiting him so bad, the reason that he broke with her was because he dont wanna be married, BUTTT IS A FACT ABOUT THAT is that he dont want that his futute wife feel with the responsibility of taking care of his grandmas, he think that's unfair)This kdrama is so good,the plot and the history is so interesting, this is the first kdrama that i see about this topic and my congrats 👏 on point, and FOR THAT PEOPLE THAT WANT SEE kang joon-yeon as menlead i'm so so sorry, the fact that she stay with him is the fact that she dont be JOO EUN-HO, joo eun-ho is her true personality and kang joon-yeon LOVE hyeri not eun ho, so i feel a lit bit confused to all that people wanting that ending, the kdrama is about that she can be happy with herself and she can pass the trauma of losing her little sister ❤️ i recommend this kdrama so much if u wanna see something diferent and with a beautiful history, i'm every monday and Tuesday waiting for the new episode.Was this review helpful to you?
The ML is so stupiddddd and to think I was rooting for him and the SML is giving obsessed because in which episode did they talk about dating cause I can’t remember. 3 episodes left and my confusion is confused.
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normalizando el abuso entre parejas
Muy buenos actores, el concepto pudo haber sido muy bueno como la sanación, el perdón, trabajo terapéutico y colocar al segundo protagonista como la verdadera persona que se quede con la protagonista femenina, quien ha sido real en todo momento, le ha brindado apoyo y respeto.Sin embargo, luego de ir bien fue cayendo la serie, normalizar el abuso entre pareja, no es lo correcto para mostrar al mundo. El ML insulta a FL y esta continua con su amor firme por el; 8 años de relación asfixiante, ignorando la independencia de cada uno se mantenían enganchado reclamando amor; sin comunicación sincera entre ambos llevando al ML a maltratar de cualquier manera posible pero cuando ella enfermaba o estaba en peligro el aparecía a cuidarla como puro codependiente.
Parecía más una serie de la relación adicto y codependiente. Esa danza entre ambos difícil de identificar al menos que hagan terapia.
No la recomiendo al menos que alguien necesite entender visualmente lo que es la codependencia.
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Is it possible to make such a drama
I never actually write reviews but I had to this time because I've wasted more than 12 hours of my precious time to watch this shit.And I don't want others to waste their time
I was following this drama for quite a long time but didn't get time to watch it. I didn't get spoilers or anything.
I've solely followed because of SHS. She's one of my favourite actresses in Korean dramas. I love her acting and confidence.
But this drama is literally nothing but all the garbage I've ever seen. I didn't expect this from the Cast.
To start with good things I've to say about music. Except that I can't appreciate anything. Some times music gave that depth to few scenes.
Acting: Such a poor acting those funny acting we expect in a high level drama are present in this but you see. I'm not ready to expect that fun because it doesn't compensate poor script. Shs was very poor in this especially when she acted as hye ri. Like literally I didn't find that happy bunny pretty girl any where. Everywhere she was depressed and some awkwardness is these in her actions when she was acting like hye ri. She was not at all chubby cutie as she was expected to be. All those explained by 2nd ML's mom is inducing into our minds that she's bunny girl but no she's not. I thought he picked up in the middle but again it fell after few episodes. ML character is just narcissistic toxic crazy boyfriend or ex boyfriend. Like he never gives time or space for FL to move on. Always getting into her business just to give her that SLOT. I don't know how can announcer hold such a power to make these things. If he rejects that slot they can give it other good candidates but those stupid superiors give those positions to FL just to blame her for taking that place and behaving like crazy. I didnt know announcers change this frequently in any shows or news I watch, it's literally crazy.
1st ML is character is very easy. Just make the Most worst Red Flag you've ever seen. Like he literally breaks up and runs to her whenever he wants. Why? Because why not. No one knows any logic. He helps FL when she gets sick and asks her to get sick at times so that he can take care of her . WHAT??? Like seriously you want her to be sick????
Don't judge yet if you think he's the only person who can think or talk like that. You're making a grave mistake. We've our 2nd ML, like WOW, he wants her to be sick i.e to get her dissociate character again just to be happy. He repeatedly asks FL to get her back. Like asking her to stop getting treatment for DID just because he likes that dissociate character???? I don't get it at all.
I don't know why that 3rd ML is given those hardships. It was like he begged some role and they game him some hardships and few dialogues and few feelings towards FL. Why'd he get feelings towards FL like she's like sister in law to him. I didn't get how that worked.
Story: ________
No story
Yup no story to explain because they wanted to address DID - failed
Address past traumas - failed
How relationships get complicated ? - failed
They tried to induce that complicated love story and relationship with all their might but how can you when you develop character and then write story??? Buying horse after getting it's whip ?
How do everyone love FL out of nowhere
What??? 2nd ML likes her because she came to him as he is?..... How did he summarise that? On what basis and what circumstances? At last he realised he has feelings for that colleague after she left for her career ? Why? Because she's going to move on from you.
1st ML realised he still has feelings for her when he realises she moved on ? That doesn't solve all the trauma he had before. They just sit and talk for 1 night and they just heal each other? How???? What did they do in those 8 years of relationship??? FL said that they were serious when they were dating and not playing around. Without talking about all these trauma and childhood and fears what did they do in those 8 years without playing around?
In making 2 characters for DID for FL, they successfully made 2 characters- 1st and 2nd ML with same toxicity, narcissism and sometimes same dialogues.
Side characters have no importance and no emotions except fun. They turn whole serious situation into fun where it's not necessary.
Everything clumsy, irritating and frustrating.
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Toxic Relationship
As much as the series tried to highlight the importance of Mental Health. I believe the importance also glossed over the writer’s story because the relationship the lead actors had was obviously a toxic one that the female lead needed to walk away from. She was heartbroken to the point of madness and the writers felt it was appropriate to go back to that.I thought we were teaching ourselves self value and when to walk away.
It was overall disappointing
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A Story That Doesn’t Know What It Is
Honestly disappointed. This story was supposed to be about a woman dealing with trauma and healing from that. Instead it became a love story - one for a toxic couple at that. The drama started to go wrong the more it started to show Hyun Oh’s life. The story isn’t supposed to be about him, it’s about her. The final couple was clearly incompatible, and it also really got on my nerves how he kept shaming her for wanting to eat. Honestly her with Joo Yeon was a much better pairing (although maybe not 100% healthy, it had more potential). And the 3rd male lead - WHY IS THIS CHARACTER THERE AT ALL???Don’t get me wrong; this drama had a lot of really powerful scenes that are worth watching! And Shin Hye Sun is honestly a goddess when it comes to acting. What I would have liked to see, is more of a focus on the female lead healing herself and her trauma with her sister, and her multiple personalities becoming one again. Instead of giving Hyun Oh’s storyline so much screen time, they should have given more time to explore Hyeri and which side of the female lead’s personality she represented. It would have been nice to have seen the female lead start to integrate some of Hyeri into her life, and start to make relationships with the good people Hyeri had brought into her life. She could have become friends with the girls much earlier rather than 10 mins before the end. This had so much potential but the writer didn’t know what the story was really about. It was beautifully filmed though! Although I really have to say that the sound mixing was terrible for this drama. Why did the background noise keep coming in and out? It was extremely off putting.
Still, I would recommend you watch it, just with the expectation that it will be disappointing at the end and the last 2 episodes are completely not needed.
I really wish she had ended up with Joo Yeon. I mean it wasn’t the healthiest relationship, he did become a bit obsessed with someone he didn’t know for that long, but the basis of their relationship was good - they both felt they could be their authentic self with the other person, and felt seen and supported. Also what he said was really beautiful - how he will love her no matter what form she takes. Is this true? Or realistic? I don’t know, but I would have liked to have seen this relationship play out. It had a lot of potential. And honestly their goodbye was great as well - although Hyun Oh had to keep interrupting like a child (another toxic behaviour of his).
This had a lot of potential, and some parts were executed very well, but I think the story arc wasn’t well thought out, and the writer made rookie mistakes - the main one being not understanding what the true heart of the story was. I hope the writer’s future project can be one where she implements the changes she has learned from this drama.
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Disappointing tbh...
Overall 6/10🌟🌟🌟
This drama really ended up disappointing me. It had potential in the first 2 episodes but it fell through pretty fast. Before I started watching I knew that the drama would either be a hit or miss regarding the mental health part. I was really hoping it would hit since Park Shin Hye starred in it, however it not only missed but completely derailed in that regard. I would not recommend watching this if you wanted to watch it for the mental health aspect. ML was an idiot and nothing, no excuses would make me forgive/like him. I did not like the way they showed the relationships. SL deserved better and I'm glad that is somewhat resolved at the end. Wrapping up, I'd say the last episode was really enjoyable if you disregard the whole story before that...💀
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A lovely story
Joo Eun Ho finds herself falling apart at the sudden breakup with her boyfriend Hyun Oh. She starts taking shelter in her alter ego Hye ri who is vocal about her feelings and quite positive which is the opposite of her characteristics. The situation takes a salty turn as Hye Ri falls for the very neat Joo Yeon.It's been a while since Korean dramas work on a mental disorder at such a crucial level. Unlike the journey of Kill Me Heal Me, the journey of Hye Ri is more complicated than it is supposed to be. With each passing episode, the conflict between Eun Ho and Hye Ri makes life and emotions difficult for Hyun Oh and Joo Yeon. Unaware of the existence of the alter ego, Joo Yeon falls hard for Hye Ri. This arc within the story is the biggest twist which never leaves the car park at its proper place.
As the story progresses and the scenes start resolving a new unplanned situation appears. This keeps the aura alive.
What say....are you looking for a parking spot? Hye Ri is there to help you.
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Pleasantly surprised
Given some of the other reviews I was pleasantly surprised at what I saw. This is not a drama without flaws, and I can appreciate an ick factor at having the ML be an actor with a past including allegations of sexual assault. I was relieved that there isn't THAT much skinship and kissing going on, so I could push it slightly to the side while watching.I think the cast as a whole is good, even the minor roles have suitable actors making each character pretty distinct.
The story arc of the 2nd ML is good, something I didn't really expect given some of the previous reviews.
These are pretty quick 12 episodes (I just came off binging a 50 ep drama before thistle one so my view might be slightly skewed) and worth the watch.
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A drama with wasted potential and wasted actors
A drama with wasted potential and wasted actors, the first few episodes seemed very promising, a plot that deals with split personalities and childhood traumas, I thought I was going to see something like "Hyde Jekyll, Me (starring Hyun Bin)" or "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" or "Kill Me, Heal Me" (which were excellent dramas) As the episodes progressed, the cruelty also arrived, the whole plot went wrong into one big mess, there is no focus in the plot, I love and appreciate the actress Shin Hye Sun very much, and here too she demonstrated her professional and versatile abilities, but her acting alone cannot hold up the messy plot. The music was mediocre and there was a lot of background noise bordering on annoying. All in all, a plot that had tremendous potential and somewhere along the way it was wasted, such a shameWas this review helpful to you?
